ATLANTA, April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- UPS will change the rules of package
delivery on May 4 with the industry's first comprehensive guarantee of
commercial ground service.
Without any change in rates, customers shipping packages to a commercial
address will be given a guaranteed delivery date -- even when the package is
moving by ground. The move responds to customer need for planned, scheduled
deliveries as well as options for urgent express shipments.
"When you put your money where your mouth is, it's the ultimate statement
of confidence in reliability," said Joe Pyne, senior vice president,
marketing. "This ground guarantee gives our business customers a bankable
competitive advantage with their customers and brings full circle the
investments we've made in customer information, operations systems, network
expansion and training for our people."
Based on today's volume, the new guarantee will apply to more than
7 million commercial ground packages delivered daily by UPS in addition to the
1.8 million air express and international deliveries already guaranteed. The
guaranteed service is expected to attract significant new business, however,
because it dramatically expands the range of options available only from UPS
and no other competitor.
The ground guarantee ups the ante in a highly competitive marketplace
where customers can plan their inventories, schedule workers and accelerate
receivables through a mix of both day-definite and time-definite delivery
services and the associated information management that UPS provides.
There is no extra charge or premium over current ground rates to secure
the guarantee. No change in labeling or package preparation is required. UPS
customers will be eligible for the guarantee, which applies to commercial
ground service in the 48 contiguous United States. Some 80 percent of UPS
volume is bound for commercial destinations. The guarantee does not cover
packages delivered via UPS ground service to residential addresses; however,
all one-, two- and three-day express services offer that guaranteed option.
"This is the most significant development in our industry since the
introduction of overnight air service. UPS Guaranteed Ground changes the
rules by removing mode of transportation from the decision. We're the only
carrier that can offer our customers a guarantee on urgent shipments for the
next morning or those scheduled four days from now," Pyne added.
UPS is the largest package delivery company in the world, serving more
than 200 countries and territories and delivering more than 12 million
packages every working day with an unmatched array of product options and
commitment to service.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., the company has 331,000 employees and
posted 1997 revenues of $22.5 billion.
Related links:
http://www.ups.com
CONTACT:
Susan Rosenberg, 404-828-6130, or Ken
Sternad, 404-828-6124, both of UPS
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